Thousands of walkers converged on Pittsburgh’s North Shore on Saturday to raise money for dozens of non-profits across the state.
More than 7,500 walkers participated in Highmark’s Walk for a Healthy Community, which celebrated its 17th year of raising money for health and human services charities.
Pittsburgh’s is the first of six walks in Pennsylvania and one in Delaware, according to spokeswoman Krista Lardieri.
The goal is to raise $500,000 in Pittsburgh and $1.65 million among all seven walks. Lardieri said that prior to the start of Saturday’s walk, more than $350,000 had been raised in Pittsburgh, and donations can continue through June 28.
Walks last year raised $1.5 million for 214 non-profits, she said. The inaugural Pittsburgh walk in 2003 raised more than $25,000 for eight non-profits.
Highmark underwrites the cost of the event, so 100% of the money raised go to participating non-profits.
“Each year, we are proud to see this walk continue to grow and support these outstanding organizations,” Dan Onorato, executive vice president at Highmark Health, said earlier this year. He called the walk a “unique fundraising opportunity” for non-profits to reach further into the community with their missions.
Other walk locations are the Johnstown/Altoona area, Erie, Harrisburg, the Leigh Valley, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area and Wilmington, Del. All told, the walks have raised more than $14 million for more than 400 non-profits.
